5.30.2024.FY24.Q_A.final.pdf

Food for Progress FY2024 Notice of Funding Opportunity Questions and Answers

Questions received to PPDED@usda.gov through May 30, 2024

1 Q. In reference to Section 4: Specific Application Formats, the NOFO reads, “Applications should: • Use Times New Roman size 12 font with one-inch margins.” Would USDA be amenable to specifying a reduced minimum font size for tables, graphics, charts?

A. Yes, 10 pt font size is permissible in tables, textboxes, and graphs.

2 Q. I want to apply for the Food for progress program will support date production and the resilience of oases in the southern regions through improved water management, I inform you that I am a farmer who specializes in growing and producing dates in the Tunisian desert, the el Derjine region of Kebili Province, on an area of 200 hectares.

A. The applicant is encouraged to find supporting documents and instructions posted in Grant.Gov here: grants.gov/search-results-detail/353809

Tanzania

3 Q. Would USDA clarify what its definition of small and medium enterprises in the Tanzania goal? Is this using USDA FFPr indicator definition or according to the government of Tanzania’s definition?

A. Yes, USDA is using the same definitions for small and medium enterprises in the Tanzania country guidance and in the Indicator Handbook. The Applicant is encouraged to use the USDA FFPr indicator definitions of small and medium enterprises, and may choose to identify any differences between these and the government of Tanzania’s definitions if relevant to the proposal.

4 Q. On page 74 of the NOFO, in the Tanzania Country Context, the three regions of Mbeya, Songwe and Iringa were provided as part of the solicitation. How would USDA like applicants to expand and justify the pre-targeted geographic areas in our response?

A. As outlined on page 74, " Applicants, using illustrative examples focusing on poultry, must demonstrate how the proposed activities will result in sustainable management of natural resources to assist Tanzania to meet increasing demand for protein products.” in the preselected regions.

5 Q. To ensure that Applicants have sufficient time to prepare and upload their proposals to the Food Aid Information System (FAIS), can USDA please add the FFPr NOFO to FAIS as soon as possible and open the system to allow proposals to be created?

A. The applicant is encouraged to find supporting documents and instructions posted in Grant.Gov here: grants.gov/search-results-detail/353809 mailto:PPDED@usda.gov https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/353809

Questions received to PPDED@usda.gov through May 30, 2024

6 Q. I am inquiring how to apply for the program consisted in improving the agriculture products in Tunisia. I am installed in Tunisia, exactly in the governorate of kebili, the southern region of Tunisia.

A. The applicant is encouraged to find supporting documents and instructions posted in Grant.Gov here: grants.gov/search-results-detail/353809

7 Q. Our organisation has interest in applying for the Food for Progress Grants and while we try to download the full and additional information links, it's returning an error message.

A. The applicant is encouraged to find supporting documents and instructions posted in Grant.Gov here: grants.gov/search-results-detail/353809

8 Q. Could you please provide us the needed documents that will aid our applications and any other assistance you might deem necessary.

A. The applicant is encouraged to find supporting documents and instructions posted in Grant.Gov here: grants.gov/search-results-detail/353809

9 Q: Please confirm that the differences between sub-recipients and subcontractors described below are correct:

• Subrecipients: These are organizations that receive a portion of the grant funds from the primary applicant to carry out part of the project’s objectives. They are selected at the applicant's discretion, named and described in the proposal, and have programmatic decision-making authority. Subrecipients are accountable for meeting project goals and compliance requirements. A detailed budget for the subrecipient is included in the proposal budget, similar to the applicant's budget.

• Subcontractors: These entities are contracted to perform specific tasks or services under the project. They do not have programmatic decision-making authority and are typically engaged for their specialized skills or expertise. Subcontractors are selected through a competitive process during project implementation. Although entities may be named in the proposal as potential subcontractors, the actual contracting is contingent upon a recruitment process completed during project implementation.

A. The applicant is encouraged to review § 200.331 Subrecipient and contractor determinations which can be found here: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle- A/chapter-II/part-200 . It is assumed that the Applicant is using “Subcontractor” in reference to “Contractor”.

10 Q: Can local public institutions from the targeted countries be hired as subcontractors, and if so, are there specific limitations in the financial agreements that public institutions can sign under a USDA Food for Progress (FFPr) project?

https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/353809 https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/353809 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200

Questions received to PPDED@usda.gov through May 30, 2024

A. Yes, local public institutions may be hired as subcontractors. Applicants should refer to 2 CFR 200 for guidance, including the procurement standards found at 2 CFR 200.317-200.327 and subrecipient monitoring and management found at 2 CFR 200.331-200.333.

11 Q. What are the prerequisites for including public entities in a consortium (either as subrecipients or subcontractors)?

A. Applicants should refer to 2 CFR 200 for guidance, including the procurement standards found at 2 CFR 200.317-200.327 and subrecipient monitoring and management found at 2 CFR 200.331-200.333.

12 Q. USDA mentions two target regions for the Madagascar FRPr - Atismo Adrefana (Tolaria) and Anosy (Fort Dauphin). Does USDA expect applicants to include programs for both regions.

If not, will USDA give preference to applicants that do?

A. Yes, USDA expects applicants to include programs for both regions in their strategy.

13 Q.P. 17, Content Guidance, Curriculum Vitae (CV) for Chief of Party. This section states, “The Applicant must attach, as part of the proposal, the CV for the proposed project lead, the Chief of Party. This person will provide major oversight of the proposed FFPr Program project.

The CV must clearly demonstrate the project lead’s relevant work experience and qualifications.” Could USDA confirm if applicants are able to submit additional CVs for other key personnel positions such as a DCOP?

A. No, the Applicant is encouraged to adhere to the guidelines of the NOFO guidelines.

Additionally, page 13 which reads “FAS strongly discourages, and will not consider, any materials submitted by or on behalf of the Applicant other than those materials specifically requested in this NOFO.”

14 Q. P. 17, Content Guidance, Past Performance Review. This section states, “For any reference projects with an existing CPAR on CPARS.gov, the Applicant may provide that CPAR as a substitute for submitting a Past Performance Review form.” Are applicants permitted to submit both a CPAR and a Past Performance Review for the same project?

A. No, please submit either a CPAR or a Past Performance Review for the same project, not both.

15 Q. P.16, Content Guidance, Organizational Capacity and Staffing, states, “The UEI for each subrecipient must be included in the description.” Can USDA please provide guidance on what should be included in the description for a local subrecipient that is in the process of applying for a UEI, but has not yet received one?

A. Please review 2 CFR § 25.300 Requirement for recipients to ensure subrecipients have a unique entity identifier found here: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-25/subpart-C/section-25.300

Questions received to PPDED@usda.gov through May 30, 2024

25/subpart-C/section-25.300. At the time of proposal review the foreign subrecipient does not have to have an active UEI, however, before the foreign subrecipient can receive U.S. funds the entity must have an active UEI.

16 Q. I was wondering if Tunisian organizations (research centers or universities) are eligible for this call. Also, are Canadian universities eligible? If so, do they have to partner with Tunisian organizations?

A. Yes, please see Part C: ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION in the NOFO and refer to the linked references, as copied below.

In accordance with the Food for Progress authorizing legislation, 7 U.S.C. 1736o-1, the following entities are eligible Applicants:

• the government of an emerging agricultural country

• an intergovernmental organization

• a private voluntary organization

• a nonprofit agricultural organization or cooperative

• a nongovernmental organization

• a college or university (as such terms are defined in section 7 S.S.C.3103(16) of this title); and

• any other private entity

17 Q. Would you accept CV for other key personnel if it’s within the page limit described in the NOFO or only the Chief of Party?

A. No, please review Part D Section 5, Content Guidance and page 13 which reads “FAS strongly discourages, and will not consider, any materials submitted by or on behalf of the Applicant other than those materials specifically requested in this NOFO.”.

18 Q. Are regional monetization sales still permitted as part of preparing and executing the commodity monetization section and related monetization sales plan? If so, does the PVO need to try a single country approach first before going with a regional approach, or can the PVO justify in its plan why a regional approach would be a better option than a single country approach?

A. Yes, a regional approach is allowed. The Applicant is encouraged to review Part 5. Content Guidance section f. Commodity Management (10pages) page 22, “Applicants must document the reasoning for their commodity selection and demonstrate that a sufficient level of market analysis has been performed to determine the most appropriate commodity. This includes considerations of local demand, cost recovery, the impact on local production and markets, the impact on commercial sales, and any specific country concerns that would impact the potential sale.”.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-25/subpart-C/section-25.300